I think I'm a bad owner

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I am really not giving my pigs the best life they could possibly have. :(
They have huge clean cages, the company of their own kind where ever possible, three types of veg everyday and unlimited food, water, hay.
BUT they are definently not getting enough of my attention. Handling is a bare minimum as is play time and cuddles :red
It is definently not a case of fun getting in the way but more life and working every hour god sends to pay my bills that are draining my time.
I regulary work 50hr weeks and alot of the time its more like 60-70hrs.
Just doing the basics for 10 pigs takes up alot of time and there are days i am that tired i feel like curling up in a ball and hiding. I dont work the hours i do because i want to its because at the moment i have no choice.
I constantly feel guilty I'm not giving them enough and things are only going to get worse.
I have just been told i can do a foundation degree at my employers expense. This will make an absolutly huge difference to me as i could never afford to do it myself and when its completed i will have a much better job, more money etc. This is a one off oppertunity as i dont know many people that get this amazing chance
BUT I'm already ran into the ground and really dont think i have much more to give.
This degree will add 15-20hrs to my weekly work load and i dont have a clue where i will find the time from.
I'm already bearly coping with the pigs and this will push me over the edge. I'm seriously thinking of turning the degree down so i can keep the pigs but to be honest I'm struggling so much.
I love them all with all my heart but the last year I keep thinking these hours are only tempoary it will get better soon but it doesnt. To make my bills I have to work crazy hours and the more hours i work the less time i have for them. I'm at such a loss what to do.
I hate the fact the pigs are not having the best most fuffiling life possible and that I'm letting them down everyday
 
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i feel for you :( It sometimes can become to much with work at personal problems etc geting in the way. Your not a bad owner though at all. They are clean, fed and I'm sure very happy lil piggies. Even if you don't cuddle them 24/7 they will know how much they mean to you. Why not try having one day a week or even just an hour or two to spend totally with the piggies? Also if this degree is really important to you and you feel the piggies would suffer slightly from you doing it why dont you find somebody to foster them for you. Just for a little while until you can cope again? i dont know if that would be an option for you.
I hope either way you sort things out and feel better soon xx
 
These sorts of decisions can be really difficult especially when you are exhausted.

If you did the foundation degree and you get a better job i assume you will have to work less hours which means you will be able to spend more time with the pigs in the long term.

You are giving them more than the basics too - you obviously care for them deeply as they get everything they need in abundance and they have each other for company. If they are outdoor pigs couldn't you bring them in to give them floor time just so they can see you even if you don't have time to handle them.

Whatever descision you make don't rush into it - especially at the moment with the additional pressure of christmas.

Jeanette x
 
You shouldn't feel bad - the piggies all have each other for company (as much as they would love a cuddle from you) and I'm sure they are extremely happy. The most important thing is that they are kept clean/fed/watered which you are doing. Like Chez has said even if you just spend 1 hour a week with them or even just making sure that you always talk to them when cleaning/feeding etc or passing them.

I know how important it is when a company wants to put you through further education (I am currently doing this myself) and if its something you really want to do then I don't think you should turn it down. Yes, it will be extremely hard work but it will be so worth it in the end.......and it is only temporary. All the hard work in the next few years will be worth it to get a better job and less hours.

Don't let the pressure get to you and give yourself time to think about it all - don't rush into making any decisions that you feel you may later regret.
 
Awww. I still go to school so I look after mine before and after school but there is no one there during the day which makes me guilty. But the way I see it is thats you care for them when you can and you do your best. What more can a piggy ask for?
 
Animals can sense our love, even if we don't always spend as much time cuddling them and petting them as we'd want to, as long as their basic necessities are met, and you give off that love vibe, or scent, or whatever it is the little munchkins get from their humans, then I think they're probably content, especially with someone who gives them so much of the good stuff they like. And remember, it's not like they're alone... they do have each other. So don't think that you're a bad piggy mummy... you sound like you're doing a wonderful job to me. :laluot_01:
 
Ditto to all that has been said. You are feeling exhausted, dont add guilt to yourself as well!
 
Yep I agree with all what has been said too. You're not a bad owner, don't beat yourself up! I don't cuddle mine all the time but they get everything they need. Don't worry too much, you obviously provide for them. :)
 
you are definately not a bad owner! I work a lot and some nights i am just too tired when i get home to cuddle them but i make sure that at the weekends i spend more time with them. They will know how much you love them and if you do the degree like has been said before you will then be in a better career position and hopefully be able to reduce your working hours and then you will have lots of time to spend with them!
 
you are not a bad owner you are taking care of there basic needs and they have each others company i have 12 guinea pigs and they do not all get cuddled every day but i talk to them when i feed them and make sure they have hay ,water and fresh vegetables i do not feal like a bad owner and i believe my piggies are happy and i am sure yours are too but what ever you decide to do i wish you all the best but remember dont beat yourself up about it
 
the degree starts in Jan so i think its all just happened very fast and making me really stop and think.
When wombat died i felt terrible guilt and how little time i had spent with him in the last few months and kept thinking i must of missed some signs that he was poorly.
 
honey,you're doing a great job. the fact that you manage to cover the basics with 10 piggies when you work so many hours! wow,i'm in awe! i'm a joint owner of 5, i do 5 9hours days a week and feel really pushed. honestly,you're doing grand. go talk to them, handfeed or stroke when you have a spare few minutes
 
I agree with all the good things said above.
Don't feel guilty ... you sound as though you are giving them everything and more than some piggies ever get in life. If you haven't got time to give them a cuddle, then don't worry about it.

Take a step back, look at what you do and provide for them and feel proud of yourself. It is so easy to feel that you are not doing enough - in work, with your family, with your pets - but life is hectic and stressful and I am sure that there aren't many folks out there that are completely stress free.

Hopefully you will have a some time off over Christmas. Try to put your feet up and take some relaxing time for yourself. Take care xx
 
Please don't feel guilty at all. You love them, clean them out, and feed them well. They have each other for company. One guinea on his/her own with little human contact would be sad, but a group is how nature intended! They are herd animals in the wild, and as long as they have food, drink, shelter, warmth and company then they will be happy. Cuddles are a bonus from the owner's point of view! My two herds of guineas live outside in huge pens and they couldn't be more content. I cuddle them when I clean their hutches out but I'm sure I enjoy the experience more than they do! Enjoy your guineas as a relaxation after work and I'm sure they'll appreciate you earning the money to buy the veggies!
 
You are not a bad owner. As long as the pigs are healthy (you check them regularly for signs of illness, keep their nails trimmed etc), they have fresh water, food and veg, hay, and have each other they should be ok. I work a lot and so don't have a lot of time for mine, but see them every morning and evening, and of course at the weekends I get them out for a quick cuddle. But like others have said, they are fine don't worry :)
 
I agree with everyone else, you certainly aren't a bad owner, quite the opposite! There are some poor piggys out there who are really poorly looked after by people who either do not care or really are clueless. Do you come under that umbrella? NO YOU DO NOT!

Yep, get Christmas out of the way and pull in some positive vibes for the new year. Could you ask someone to help a little, even if for a bit? I hope it gets easier for you, I can see you love them so much :-)
 
I really do love them so much, would be alot easier if I didnt.
But how can anyone not love guinea pigs, there so amazing.x)
 
Your guinea pigs are lucky to have you... glad you realize this. And I've no idea how anyone could not love guinea pigs. My ex mother-in-law hates rodents of any type, and not even she could resist the illegal levels of cuteness that radiate from a guinea pig.
 
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